Daniil Medvedev believes he would have retired from his match against Hubert Hurkacz at the Australian Open if he hadn’t worked on his fitness.
The former US Open champion said he felt ‘destroyed’ after winning his quarter-final match in Melbourne. In the heat, Medvedev battled for four hours before prevailing in five sets. Making it the second match in the tournament that he has been taken to the full distance. The first time he did so was against Finland’s Emil Ruusuvuori in the second round with that match not ending until 3:39am.
Speaking frankly about his latest win, the world No.3 admits that he was feeling tired for obvious reasons. However, it is an issue he feels he might need to be looked into in the future.
“I have no idea. The thing is that maybe I should dig into it more, because we try very hard with my team to put myself at the 100% of my abilities, and I think we do it.” Medvedev said during his press conference.
Medvedev has played plenty of five-set matches before with three of those seeing him recover from a 0-2 deficit. In the Grand Slams, he has played 100 matches and has won 75 of those.
“I see some guys play five-set matches, 7-6 in the fifth, they seem fine in the locker room. I’m, like, Wow. Did he look good?” He continued.
“Maybe it’s a question of metabolism and genetics. I honestly have no idea. I know I get tired. I fight my best. We work with my team to make me able to do so.”
Nevertheless, the Russian also points out the improvements he has made during his career that have got him to the position he is now. A former world No.1 who has won 20 ATP titles, including the 2021 US Open.
“What I started doing with my team when I was 22 or 23 years old, if I didn’t do it, today after the third set I’m done. Like I could have probably retired,” he admits.
“When I played against Novak (Djokovic) in our first Davis Cup (meeting), I started cramping I think at 1-0 in the second set. I won the first, I had a break for 1-0 and then I made 3-0, but at 1-0, I was already cramping. Then I literally fell down on the court and retired.
“I’m trying my best. I would love to be someone who is not really tired, and doesn’t care about the heat, but that’s not me. But I try to win as I can.”
Medvedev’s next test will occur on Friday when he faces either Carlos Alcaraz or Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals at Melbourne Park. It is the third time in his career that he has reached this stage of the tournament.
